Chapter 13 – A Dangerous Invitation
The days following Leon's sudden appearance were anything but peaceful.
Ethan quickly discovered that Leon was everywhere. No matter where he went—whether it was the company lobby, the cafeteria, or even the parking lot—he would catch a glimpse of that sly, fox-like smirk.
Leon never approached him directly, not with Adrian nearby. But his gaze lingered long enough to make Ethan's skin crawl. It wasn't just attention—it was interest. The kind that stripped Ethan bare, like Leon was peeling away his carefully constructed armor layer by layer.
Adrian, on the other hand, had become more protective than ever. His once aloof indifference had transformed into suffocating vigilance. He rarely left Ethan alone, even insisting that Ethan's desk be moved closer to his office.
To the outside world, it looked like the powerful CEO was simply doting on his spouse. But Ethan knew better. This was Adrian's way of keeping him out of Leon's reach.
And yet, no cage—no matter how gilded—could stop Leon Zhou.
---
It was late afternoon when Ethan decided to step outside for some fresh air. The endless stack of contracts in Adrian's office had begun to blur together, and his head was pounding. Adrian was on a call, his tone sharp and clipped, so Ethan slipped out quietly.
The courtyard garden outside the Zhou Corporation headquarters was quiet, filled with the sound of trickling fountains and the scent of blooming lilies. Ethan inhaled deeply, savoring the rare moment of peace.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Ethan froze. That voice—smooth, teasing, unmistakable—drifted from behind him.
He turned sharply. Leon leaned casually against a marble pillar, hands in his pockets, eyes gleaming with amusement.
"You—" Ethan's instinct was to retreat, but Leon raised a hand as if to calm him.
"Relax," Leon drawled. "I'm not here to cause a scene. I only wanted a private word."
"I don't have anything to say to you," Ethan snapped, turning to leave.
But Leon moved swiftly, stepping into his path. His smile widened, but there was a sharpness to it, like a predator cornering prey.
"You're brave. I like that." Leon's eyes raked over him, lingering far too long. "Adrian's always been possessive, but I never imagined he'd choose someone like you. An Omega who hides behind suppressants… Interesting."
Ethan's chest tightened. His fists clenched at his sides. "Stop. Stop saying things like that."
Leon leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "What are you so afraid of? That people will find out? That Adrian's empire will crumble if the world discovers the truth?"
Ethan's heart raced. Leon's words cut too close to the fears he buried deep inside.
"You don't know anything about me," Ethan bit out.
"Oh, but I do." Leon's smile softened, though it was no less dangerous. "You're trapped, Ethan. Caged by Adrian's pride, his obsession. He'll never let you go, no matter how much you suffer. But me?" He tilted his head, his eyes glinting. "I don't want to cage you. I want to see what you're capable of when you're free."
Ethan blinked, startled by the sudden shift in tone. Was Leon… trying to tempt him?
Before he could respond, Leon slipped something into his hand—a sleek, black invitation card embossed with gold.
"Come to my party this weekend," Leon murmured, his fingers brushing deliberately against Ethan's. "No bodyguards. No Adrian. Just you and me. Think of it as a chance to breathe."
Ethan stared down at the card, his pulse pounding in his ears.
When he looked up again, Leon was already walking away, his confident stride leaving behind the faint scent of expensive cologne and danger.
---
That evening, Adrian noticed the shift in Ethan's behavior immediately. He always did.
"What happened?" Adrian asked, his sharp eyes narrowing as Ethan fidgeted at the dinner table.
Ethan stiffened. "N-Nothing."
Adrian's voice hardened. "Ethan."
Ethan hesitated. For a moment, he considered telling Adrian everything—that Leon had cornered him, that he knew far too much, that he had invited him to a party. But something stopped him.
Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was fear that Adrian would only tighten the chains around him further.
So instead, Ethan forced a smile. "I just… had a long day."
Adrian studied him in silence, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he leaned forward, his aura pressing down on Ethan like a heavy blanket.
"Remember what I told you," Adrian murmured, his voice low and possessive. "Stay away from Leon."
Ethan swallowed hard, nodding. But in his pocket, the invitation card burned against his skin, its weight impossible to ignore.
---
The weekend arrived far too quickly.
Ethan stared at the invitation card for hours, torn between fear and a strange, reckless curiosity. Leon's words echoed in his mind—I don't want to cage you. I want to see what you're capable of when you're free.
In the end, curiosity won.
That night, while Adrian was caught up in an emergency meeting, Ethan slipped out of the mansion. The city lights shimmered in the distance as he climbed into a cab, the invitation clutched tightly in his hand.
When he arrived at Leon's private estate, he realized this was no ordinary "party."
The place was buzzing with people—politicians, business elites, celebrities. Laughter and clinking glasses filled the air. But despite the glittering crowd, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that all of this was just a backdrop for Leon's true goal.
Sure enough, within minutes, Leon appeared at the top of the grand staircase. His eyes found Ethan instantly, lighting up with satisfaction.
"Welcome," Leon said, descending with the grace of someone who knew the entire room revolved around him. He reached Ethan's side, taking his hand boldly before Ethan could protest. "You came. Good."
Ethan's heart raced. Every instinct screamed at him to pull away. But the way Leon's grip tightened, the way his eyes locked onto his, made it clear—Leon wasn't going to let him slip away so easily.
And deep down, Ethan knew this was only the beginning.